Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Versa 3 – Which Should You Buy?

Featured in today’s comparison chart is Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Versa 3, we’re comparing the differences between these two fine smartwatches to find out which is a better smartwatch for you. I’m really excited to write this post because I have been using Active 2 for over 3 months and Versa 3 for over 6 weeks. Recall that Active 2 was released last year and preceded by Galaxy Watch Active, it still runs on the Tizen OS 5.5 just like Galaxy Watch 3. Versa 3 on the other hand succeeds Versa 2 and is now equipped with an inbuilt GPS, loudspeaker, and longer battery life. So, I’ll be telling you everything about these two smartwatches to help you make the ideal choice.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Versa 3: Specifications Compared

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Watch this indepth Fitbit Versa 3 vs Active 2 comparison.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Versa 3 Features Comparison

DESIGN – Active 2 Looks More Attractive

The design of both the Active 2 and Versa 3 look stylish and elegant. Although, I do think the Active 2 is a more polished smartwatch with a sophisticated aesthetics. I have the 44mm Active 2 which is very compact and a little bigger than Versa 3.

The display of both smartwatches is powered by AMOLED which is rich in colors. Although, Active 2 has a higher color resolution than Versa 3. Navigation is easy on both watches with Versa 3 supporting touchscreen and has a haptic button that I don’t really fancy, while Active 2 offers 2 physical buttons in addition to a digital rotating bezel which is very iconic and a touch-sensitive screen.

You can only store up to 5 watch faces at any given time on Versa 3 unlike Active 2 which allows you to install watch faces directly, and you can also store as many watch faces as the storage capacity can take. Let’s not forget that you can also take a screenshot of the screen with Active 2 which you can send to your phone. This comes in handy in sharing your watch faces which isn’t possible with Versa 3.

In terms of interface, Active 2 has a better and more sophisticated user interface that allows you to find information faster. You can add up to 15 widgets on Active 2 compared to 5 on Versa 3. There are 21 options to fill in the quick panel section of Active 2 compared to 6 on Versa 3.

MEDIA AND CONNECTIVITY

Both the Active 2 and Versa 3 offer music storage, however, Versa 3 has limited storage options. This is a drawback from the Versa 2 that allows you to add your personal music. You can’t add your personal music to Versa 3, you can only control Spotify playlists, download Deezer playlists, and Pandora stations which are all premium services. Meanwhile, Active 2 allows you to add your personal music easily from the Galaxy Wearable app. However, you won’t get Spotify or Deezer with Active 2.

There is a microphone and speaker in both Active 2 and Versa 3. This will allow you to make and receive calls directly from any of these two when your phone is nearby. However, Active 2 has a phone app that allows you easily dial any number you wish to call. It also has a contact app that syncs your phone contact so that you can easily find any contact you wish to call effortlessly. With Versa 3, you can receive and answer calls, but to start a call, you can only use your voice to start a call with Google Assistant.

The Versa 3 features two voice assistants; Alexa and Google Assistant which gives you the option of choosing from two voice assistants unlike Active 2 which only features Samsungs’ Bixby.

From my experience, both Alexa and Google assistant are more intelligent than Bixby.

There is a cellular model of Active 2 which is a standalone smartwatch that allows you to make and receive calls directly from the watch independent of your phone.

FITNESS AND HEALTH TRACKING

I like that both Versa 3 and Active 2 are fitness-oriented, any of these two tracks all the basics such as my heart rate, sleep, steps, calories, and floors climbed.

I like that Active 2 tracks my sleep in groups identifying short or long breaks during the night unlike Versa 3 which combines all sleep records. It might not really mean anything to you, but I like to know when there was a break like I woke at night and handled my phone for a couple of minutes before going back to bed.

There’s inbuilt GPS on each of these two that allows you to track your routes, locations, distance, pace, and related metrics without carrying your phone along. After working out, Active 2 will allow you to see routes right on the watch unlike Versa 3 which require you to view routes in the Fitbit app. Though to view a detailed report of your outdoor workout, you need to use the respective fitness apps; Samsung Health and Fitbit app for Active 2 and Versa 3 respectively.

There are preset workout modes in each of these two, however, while Active 2 has 39 preset sport modes, Versa 3 has only 20 workout modes. You can also log your food and water intake as well as track the period cycle for women with any of these two.

Active 2 features ECG monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, and incidental fall detection all of which Versa 3 lacks. It requires a separate Samsung Health Monitor app to enable and access your blood pressure and ECG tracked data.

NOTIFICATIONS

Managing notifications is one of the basic functions of both Active 2 and Versa 3. You can set up the apps you want to receive notifications from on the respective companion apps of these two and you can reply to notifications with your voice, texts, and emojis. However, Active 2 offers you more ways to reply to notifications. While there is a maximum of 5 preset replies for Versa 3, it’s more than 15 on the Galaxy Wearable app, and you can add even more. Moreover, with Active 2 you can view chat history and images received which isn’t possible with Versa 3.

BATTERY LIFE

I tested the battery life on each of these two to be sure how much battery life you get from any of these. I turned on notifications for the same number of apps for both Active 2 and Versa 3, turned off the always-on display mode and I worked out daily for 30 minutes with each of these two. I got about 2 days with Active 2, while Versa 3 lasted up to 5 days. It can be longer or shorter depending on your usage and settings.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Versa 3 – Which is Better?

From the facts stated so far, you can observe clearly that each of these two is a fine smartwatch. Any of these two will make a decent choice for tracking your active life and can help you reach more fitness goals.

VERDICT: However, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a better smartwatch that Versa 3. It has more features and a richer OS than Versa 3. It offers advanced and better ways to navigate, more fitness tracking features and you can make and receive calls from the watch.

Active 2 only lags behind Versa 3 with respect to battery life. Versa 3 has longer battery life.

WHICH SHOULD YOU BUY? The price difference between Versa 3 and Active 2 is very close. So, if you want more features, Active 2 is a better investment. If you want longer battery life, go for Versa 3.